About Us

Posted: 11/24/10 Written by: Cherie Harris

You may know that your water softener doesn’t remove chlorine from water, but do you know what chlorine specifically does? Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant and it is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing bacteria that the water or its transport pipes might contain.

Chlorine is a savior against cholera and various other water-borne diseases.  Its disinfectant qualities have allowed communities and whole cities to grow and prosper by providing disease-free tap water to homes and industry.  But, this disinfecting has not come without a price.  Chlorine introduced into the water supply reacts with other naturally-occurring elements to form toxins called trihalomethanes (THMs), which eventually make their way into our bodies. THMs have been linked to a wide range of human health maladies ranging from asthma and eczema to bladder cancer and heart disease. In addition, the Environmental Research Foundation cites several studies linking moderate to heavy consumption of chlorinated tap water by pregnant women with higher miscarriage and birth defect rates.

Not only is chlorine a potential health hazard, it is also very damaging to skin and hair.  Psoriasis and related skin disorders can be exasperated from the presence of chlorine.  The harshness of chlorine in the water can also lead to dry skin and wrinkles.  According to Rachelle Carson Begley, “The highlights in my hair were turning green due to the heavily chlorinated water where we live.  Since the installation of LifeSource Whole House Water System, I notice my skin and hair are not nearly as dry and unmanageable.
 
A recent report by the non-profit Environmental Working Group concluded that from 1996 though 2001, more than 16 million Americans consumed dangerous amounts of contaminated tap water. The report found that water supplies in and around Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and the Bay Area in California were putting the greatest number of people at risk, although 1,100 other smaller water systems across the country also tested positive for high levels of contaminants.
“Dirty water going into the treatment plant means water contaminated with chlorination byproducts coming out of your tap,” said Jane Houlihan, EWG’s Research Director. “The solution is to clean up our lakes, rivers and streams, not just bombard our water supplies with chlorine.

Consumers do have options for filtering the chlorine from their water.   Granular activated carbon is proven to be the most effective filtration element for reducing chlorine and its byproducts.  The best alternative is a whole house water system attached to the water source coming into a home.  A LifeSource Whole House Water System gives you clean, safe water from every tap, shower, ice maker and other water sources in your home. 

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment on this blog.

Have a Comment? Complete the form below. Your Name Your Email Comment Confirm Please type the letters from the box above   Please note: Comments are moderated and may delay your comment entry. There is no need to resubmit your comment.